Animal trap



May 18, 1928. 1,s84,8o2

E. H. PIECZKO ANIMAL TRAP Filed sep'. l. 1925 z sneets-sneet 1 z EM". Hmy'pmm May 1.8 ;1926. 1,584,8'02

E. H. PIECZKO ANIMAL TRB .ANIMAL TRAP.

Application filed September 19, 1925.

rl`his invention is a novel animal trap and is especially designed for the captnre and lzilling of fur bearing` animals. I The invention provides an iinproved animal tra-p which will be strong and durable; will be reliable in action; will seonrely hold 'the animal captured therein; will be relatively compact and light; and can be easily handled7 that is, set and baited.

In particular the invention provides. a novel trap oomprising a stationary frame with movable jaws mounted pivotally on each side thereof; novel means for secnrely holding the jaws in open or set` position; novel means for holding the bait; and novel means for rigidly holding` the jaws after the trap has been closed or sprung, thus preventing` the escape or release of the animal captured and assnring the death thereof. 'fhe invention further provides novel means whereby when the trap is sprung Capture is assured no matter from what direct-ion approach is made. Further objects of the invention and novel features thereof will be hereinafter set forth.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical trap embodylng the invention which Y'ill be described in detail to enable others to understand and use the same, but the invention is not considered restricted to the specific construction shown in the drawings, and reference is therefore had to the olaims for sumi'naries of the essentials of the invention and of the novel features of construction and of the novel combinations of parts for all of which protection is desired.

fn the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the complete trap illnstrating the jaws thereof in closed or sprung position.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

w Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the complete trap illustrating` the javvs t-hereof in closed position.

Figure ll is a side elevational view of the complete trap illnstrating the jaws thereof in open or set position.

Figure 5 is a Vertical sectiona-l view through the complete trap also illnstrating the jaws in open position.

Figure G is a plan view of a. modified Serial No. 57,465.

form trap, the jaws being illustrated in set position.

Figura 'Z is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Fignre 8 is a frontelevational view of the modified form of trap the jaws thereof being illustrated in closed position.

Figure 9 is a detail view of a modified form of actuating spring detached.

'ls shown in the drawings the trap comprises a stationary frame 1 which may be of any desired shape being` illustrated as substantially circular, and may be of any desired size and strength to meet the particular requirements of the variety of trappingl for which it is designed to be used. The frame is provided with a plnrality of prongs or spiles la at the. base thereof for holding the trap in upright position. Preferably these prongs are forined integrally with the frame. Ears 1b are struck up from the sides of the frame at the horizontal aXis thereof and adjacent the said ears angle plates 1 are secured to the opposite sides of the frame by any suitable means, as by welding` rivets or the lil'ze. Each upstanding flang'e of the plates 1c and each car 1h is provided with two circular apert-nres for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Jaws 9. are pivotally monnted upon the frame l; four of these faivs being` provided and being inonnted in pairs, on each sideV of-th'e frame. rhesc jaws oorrespond in size, shape and relative strength to t: frame so that when the jaivs are in a p tion parallel thereto., each pair of said jaws will closely overlie opposite sides of the frame l. n the present instance the jaws are illustrated as semi-cn'cular in shape and are provided on their onter periphery adjacent the ends thereof with integral Divots 2a adapted for the pivotal inonnting of the jaws within the apertures or bearings in the ears lb and angle plates l.

Pivotally inounted upon the frame by any desired means as the screw 1CI is a trigger member 3 for holding the j-aws in set position and releasing' same when the trap is sprung. coinprises an up- The trigger o vstanding arm notched as at 5a to form shoulders 8b the notch being of a sufficient width to hold the opposed Jaws therein when the lOU trap is set, as shown in Figure The trigger is provided at the base thereof with an integral portion .53 con a hait retaining pan. This pan is god vith apertures for securing the nart there-,to by any desired means. The trigger is further provided with ears 5d for p'ivotal inounting .upon the frame as by the screw 1d.

t will hc readily seen that any slight depression of the haitpan as by the placing;` lof the paw of the niarauding animal there on will cause a forward movement of the trio'ger arin', resul w in the .release of opposed aws 2 from their set position within the jaw retaining noteh 3, thereby springingl the trap. The upper jaw of each pair of jawa thus being' rieleased means are provded fon simultaneously aotnating each pair of jaws to snap them z y``ainst each other into closed position, see Figures 1 to 3, and rigidly holdingl opposed pairs o; jaws in said position.

This means ooinprises double action sprin'gs 4:, suhstantially U-sli:.\,-ped, having opposed arms la, .each arin having` an aperture 4b therein. In asseinhling the trap adja-cent ends of each pair of `iaws are passed through the aperture in one of the arms Lin, the ends of the opposite pair of jaws being passed through the other arm. o

v1'Vhen the trap is in set position as shown in Figure ll, the spring` is compressed; and, upon the springing of the trap, the tenslon of the compressed spring); aots to snap the upper and lower jaw of each pair against each other, holding them rigidly in this position or against any object which may be thereloetween, as the paw of the captured4 animals as indi'cated in dotted lines in Figure 4. The jiaws are then securely held in this position until release is permitted by the manual compression of the springs 4:.

it will be readily understood that an, animal desiring the bait will reach therefor with its paw or nose therehy depressing the hait pan 3. This depression results, as above descrihed, in the release of the jaws 2, which through the afltion of the lSprings are snapped together with suliicient force to insure the Capture and killing,` of the maurauding animal. Obviously through the employnient of four jaws 2 no matter from what direction or angle the bait is approaehed, springing of the trap and Capture of the animal will result. If desired and the nature of the variety of the trapping so ,requires the trap may he suitably conoealed to render it invisihl'e.

In the modified' form of trap as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the frame 11 is suhstantially rectangular in shape and is provided with iaw holding plates ll. The plates are provided with suitable apertures for the pivotal mounting of jar-.is 12. But

Double action Springs let, identical with the Springs el, are provided for assuring proper springing of the trap and the retaining of the jaws in closed position; the f'anie 11 being r'ecessed for the accommodation of these springs.

lit will be readily und-erstood that the operation of this' modified form of 'trap is id`entical with the operationof the above desoribed |.)refei'i'ed form, the 'only difference thei'ebetween being the resultant necessity l'or but two movahle jaws with the use of fiat rather than a Vertical type of trap.

in Figure 9 there is illustrated a modified form of double ction spring, consisting `of opposed arn'is 15 secured as by rivets or the like 15. The apertnre lb may be of any desired shape, being' illustrated as square.

There has thus been' descrihed a trapv for fur-hearing animals, simple in operation and positive in action; a trap which can be economioally manufactured yet will be strong and durable; and will assure the' capture and humane killing` of animals sought'to he 4i'ap'ped.

The invention having thus been described what is claimed is:

1. A trap of the class deserihed comprising a frame, mo'vable pairs of jaws mounted on said frame, means for holding said pairs of jaws in set position, comprising an L shaped trigger pivotally mou'nt'ed within said frame, the lower portion of said trigger comprisinp; means for siinultaneously releasing said pairs of jaw's, the last named means co'mprising a bait retaining pan, and means for springing the trap and holding` said ;zairs of jaws after release consisting of U shaped Springs positioned upon and acting on adjacent extremities of opposed pairs of ]aws. i

2. In a trap of the class described, a frame, movable jaws mounted on said frame, an i. shaped trigger mount'ed within sa'd frame, said trigg'er eomprising an upper p'ortion with means for holding the jaws in set position and a lower portion integral with said upper portion with means for releasing` said jz'iws.V said last named means con'iprising` a hait retaining 22111, and means for spring'ing the trap and holding said jaws after release.

In a trap of the 'class descriljed, a frame, movahle jaws inounted A'on opposed sides of said frame, an L shaped trigger pivotally lnountecl Within said frame, said trgger comprising means for holding the jaws in set position at its upper portion and means for releasng said jaws at its ntegral lower pol'ien, said last named means compfising a bit re'ainng' pan, and 1'n--ms fm: v-imntaneonsly sprngng 'the trup and hodsimultaneously upon acent extremites of 10 opposed jaws.

In testlmcny Whereof he afiixes hls slgnature.

EMU; HENRY PIECZKO. 

